Page 92 of Damned and Broken Gods
Jasha must have felt me looking at him because his gaze flicked my way, his eyes widening before he turned on his heel and walked into the shadows of the houses.
“Fuck, now I feel bad.”
“Don’t. He was still awful to you. There was no call for him to be. You have done nothing wrong.” He smiled, and his eyes crinkled in such a Pashim way that my heart ached.
“I miss him, you know.”
Ramashi’s gaze softened. “I know, Leela. I see it when you look at me.”
I swallowed past the pinch in my throat. “He was my anchor here before any other.” I lifted my chin. “I’m going to free his soul from the pishachas that killed him.”
Ramashi’s eyes lit up. “I believe you.” His gaze flicked over my head. “And on that note, I should sidle away before your drohi gets the wrong impression.” He inclined his head and slipped away just as a familiar heat kissed my back.
“Leela?”
I turned to face Araz. “Hey, you.”
“Are you not having fun?”
“Oh, I am. I love people watching.”
He smiled slightly. “Were you watching me?”
There was a sparkle in his eyes and a relaxed roll to his words. “Araz…are you drunk?”
His smile bloomed wider. “Would you mind?”
My pulse kicked up, but the suspicion that he was playing with me crossed my mind. “No. You can do whatever you like. I’m not the boss of you.”
“No? Queen to be.” He leaned in. “You wouldn’t want to boss me around, just a teeny bit?”
His warm breath kissed my cheek, and a shiver skipped up my spine. I smiled up at him. “Maybe a little.”
“And what would you order of me?”
The music chose that moment to get louder, and a wicked idea formed in my mind. “How about you dance for me.”
I expected him to still, to immediately sober up, but instead his eyes gleamed brighter, his grin widening. “Only if you dancewithme.”
He grabbed my hand and pulled me into his arms, and before I could protest, he’d spun us out from under the canopy and into the revelry. An involuntary whoop flew from my lips, and then he was leading, swirling us into the dancing, his eyes laughing at my stunned expression.
I gave in to the joy burgeoning in my chest as he spun me away from him, then tugged me back into his arms and up against his body so our faces were mere inches apart.
My stomach flipped.
His smile died, dark heat filling his eyes.
The pulse between my thighs echoed the one at the base of my throat, throbbing with aching need.
He spun me away again, and this time when he spun me back, we were at the edge of the dancefloor, and in the next moment we were under the canopy again, my back to the wall, his mouth on mine. Hungry. Insistent. Claiming.
I surrendered with soft moans, my fingers sinking into his hair as I devoured the sweet nectar on his lips, wanting him closer, wanting to meld with him. For us to become one, not just physically but metaphysically. The desire was so acute it brought tears to my eyes.
A sob climbed up my throat, and he swallowed it, his kiss softening. Teasing. Pulling away then returning for another taste until the only thing holding me upright were his arms.
“Leela…” His tawny gaze raked over my face, lingering on my lips. “I cannot be trusted to share your bed tonight.”
Heat simmered low in my belly. “What if I don’t care…What if I?—”
